The sun was out again this morning but it looks like there is rain coming in over the next day or two so I thought I would make another excursion to the coast, this time I went to Victoria Point. At first it didn’t seem to be as nice as Wellington Point but as you leave the jetty and head north hugging the coastline, then it begins to become a bit more palatable apart from some areas where the big square architectural monoliths have appeared lowering the tone of the whole neighbourhood. I think there are too many home design programmes on TV now and the dumb folk with money think that building a monstrosity in a place without any sympathy to the existing landscape is a fun thing to do or maybe all the available architects had the same stupid teacher.

I’m more of a traditionalist but I do like to see modern innovative design but you would be hard pushed to find it on this part of the coast. Build big for big’s sake and forget about design seems to be what happened here. Mind you in amongst the failures there are a few that excel with forethought and the results are plain to see.

This morning I went to the Daisy Hill Conservation Park for a walk around the Buhot Loop, it’s my first time here. I’m using “Alltrails” which is a great app for finding walks, cycle routes and basically outdoor activities. The entrance to the park is only 15 mins away which was great.

From the car park I walked up a short trail and then came to a notice board showing you the track options. There are tracks for mountain bikes, horses and for walking and many of the trails are communal so you have to be aware of any bikes that may sneak up behind you. Mind you today most of the cyclists were very courteous and I had no problems.

The track was about 11km and pretty easy and rather uneventful. Not much wildlife possibly due to the amount of humans running, riding and walking through the park. It was enjoyable but I don’t think that I will return in a hurry, too busy and too easy.

After lunch I drove back to Wellington Point just in time for low tide so that I could walk out to King Island which lies about a kilometre off shore. There is a wide curving sandbar which is exposed for a few hours which makes it easy to have a casual stroll out and back and if the shop hadn’t been so busy I would have got ice-cream, a well maybe next time.

Two weeks ago I moved from NSW to QLD. I’ve been enjoying the lovely Queensland winter days, the usual temperature is around 21C although if there is a wind it can feel a little bit chilly. It’s been great for walking and cycling because you very rarely feel like you are getting too hot and the sun does not burn you but instead feels very pleasant on the skin. So yes I have been enjoying being back in my home state.

I’m within 10 kms of the coast which makes it easy to cycle to and I must admit that if I had the cash I would buy in this part of the world. Most of the roads are smooth and wide and there is usually a space for the cyclist. It’s not too hilly and not too busy during the week. I’m staying at Peter and Cheryl’s home for a few weeks till my house becomes available when the tenants move out. The house is on two acres of land in Capalaba only minutes from a busy shopping district but you would never know it when you look out the back door. We are surrounded by wildlife and nature and I quite often see the kangaroos bouncing across the back lawn.

Two nights ago was my first night alone in many months. In the last three years there has only been a handful of nights where I have had the house to myself, I’ve lived on my own for years and this has been common place. Peter and Cheryl headed off for a few weeks holiday leaving me all alone in this big house in the middle of this suburban oasis. Every creak and groan and possum grunt could be heard, but in the dead of night there is silence and I found it rather strange to have so much silence around me once more. I could hear myself breathe. For years this was the norm but I must admit having shared my life with others over the last few years this does not feel like the norm anymore.

I still enjoy my own company and I’m not feeling lonely or anything like that but I am surprised at the way I am feeling. Maybe it’s time to buy a goldfish……………..

When I went to the house the other day I picked up my bike and today I took a run to Cleveland. I did 30.5 km and although there were a few hills I felt not too bad when I got back. It’s quite a busy road and I’ve driven it many times before but this is the first time I have cycled it and you certainly realise that the hills are a bit more challenging. On the way there you drop down to sea level but on the way back with the head wind I felt the old legs complaining a little, but as usual one must never get off.

For my first run in this neighbourhood it went well and I’m going to look for more of the bike paths that are around this area to make the going a bit easier, there are still too many dickheads driving on the roads to give you a fright.

Tomorrow if I feel up to it I might go for anther wee run. The bike is running well and it’s good to get back on board, although using the clip on shoes took a bit of getting used to again. I had to make sure that my knee is in the upright position before twisting my foot to unclip or I may twist my knee instead.      

I went to the lighthouse at Cleveland overlooking Moreton Bay which is a very pretty spot, although the wind was a bit fresh…………..

Well after three months I have finally left Catherine and Stuart in peace and they can get back to normal, Stuart will once again be able to come out the shower without clothes and stand naked in front of the wood burner heater….apparently my presence stopped this behaviour, which I was happy about.

We drove to Ballina Truck stop on the highway near Ballina of course and not far from the Queensland border. My friend Peter came down from Capalaba near Brisbane to pick me up which was magic. I’ll be staying at his place for about a month until I can get into my house.

The rain was belting down as we approached the Queensland border which is closed to residents of any other state; we both had our permits on the front window. As we passed the checkpoint the traffic did not slow and the police were sheltering from the downpour, so much for border security…….every man and their dog could easily slip into the state.

I’m so grateful to Catherine and Stuart for putting up with me and giving me bed and board for the last three months, I’m not sure what I would have done if they were not able to help me.

Peter and Cheryl will be leaving in two weeks time on a road trip and I will be able to stay at their place for at least a month. The house is set on two acres of land and is very quiet, apart from the Kookaburra’s calls first thing in the morning.

Tomorrow Peter and I will go to the hoose and see if we can get the Olde Ford running, if all goes well I’ll take it to the mechanic to get the relevant certificates to get her back on the road. Hopefully it will be straight forward.

The car has not turned a wheel for over two years and so I really hope that all will be well. So looking forward to having my wheels back, having my freedom to go where I want when I want. be going for a few drives and catching up with friends and I’m really looking forward to just getting back to my own space and my own times zone, rather than having to rely on others.

I’ll keep you posted…………..

Today we went to Wollomombi Falls which is about 30 mins from Armidale. It rained a little last night and so we thought that it might be good to go and see if there was actually any water flowing over the falls. The drought has been severe this year and rain is a rare commodity. There was a steady stream falling but I’ve seen it years ago when it looked a lot more spectacular.

There are a few short walks and if you arrive there and go left you can walk for quite a fair away. If you are lucky enough you may see some wild life, today we managed to hear and see the amazing Lyrebird. If you have not heard of this amazing creature before then you need to Google it because it is famous for being able to imitate almost any sound including chainsaws. Today we heard it going through its repertoire of bird songs and then we actually saw it running through the ground cover like the Roadrunner..

It was a pleasant walk today because the path hugs the gorge and the views are spectacular plus the fact due to the rain this morning everywhere had a freshness about it and the lichens and mosses looked very colourful indeed.

June 6^th

I had planned to fly from Chengdu to Amman in Jordan today, the flight was booked and so were my hotels for the next week. I was heading for Petra which is one of these ancient wonders of the world. My ultimate destination was the UK where I was going to apply for a new Chinese visa and also be there for my 60^th birthday in July but alas the “Year of the Rat” brought the plague to the world and everything got cancelled.

And so I returned to Australia until further notice, and I’m hoping I can get back to my house where I can contemplate life the universe and everything and maybe even get a job. I have already planned to do some changes to the house and I know that after having the house rented for 4 years means there will be jobs to complete and maybe minor repairs to be done.

I want to get power to the large shed at the bottom of the garden, it’s about 20m or more from the house and it is 6m x 12m and the last time I rented the house many asked if there was power because they wanted to use it as a workshop and so I’m thinking that if I power it up I might be able to get more rent when I finally head off on my next adventure.

I’m also hoping to renovate half the downstairs area which may also add some value and allow me to charge some more rent and of course to escape the heat of the summer which will no doubt be fierce.

So in a little over two weeks I’ll leave Armidale and head to Brisbane, pick up the car and get her roadworthy once more. After which I will be as free as a bird because I’ll be able to go where I want and drive myself here and there rather than having to rely on others or public transport. I fancy a bit of a road trip and so I think I’ll either go away for a few days or take the old girl for a drive and blow out the cobwebs.

Petra, Egypt, Spain, Greece and the UK will all have to wait till another day which is fine by me. I do enjoy my travels but I don’t always enjoy the flights, the airport and so I’m thinking that I might try to get around using trains if possible. I did that in Italy a few years ago and it was really a lot more convenient and less stressful.

However if I get a job and get loads more cash then I think that I may have to consider going to South America, in particular Peru so that I can go to Machu Picchu. My final destination will hopefully be China once more but if I can go to a few more places on the way there then the adventure will begin once more, something to look forward too…………….

Today we went to Point Lookout which is a popular destination for those wanting to go for a walk or just see the coast. If you are lucky and it’s a clear day you can see to the the coast which is approximately 63 km’s as the crow flies.

Point Lookout is over 1600 m but it was not too cold. We went for a short walk along the Eagle’s Nest Trail which takes us down under Point Lookout and then brings back up further along the cliff edge.

First time I have walked here and you do get wonderful views of the the New England national Park. When we arrived today the cloud was just lifting which made it good for the a few photos.

The walk is short but it took us around an hour and a half and then we had a picnic before heading home, egg and tomato sandwiches and tea.

Winter begun yesterday and this morning the temperature plummeted and then it began to
snow. The snow was only very light but it did reinforce the fact that winter had arrived. Along
with the snow came a blast of icy air just to make it all that more comfortable. The wind chill
was only -4 C but it still made a difference. I went out for my usual walk this morning and I still
wore my shorts and after about 10 mins I could really feel the cold on my shins.

The snow was
quite heavy and the front of my jacket was white, my fingers were beginning to feel cold but my
body was warm. It’s invigorating to be out walking when it’s like this and usually my bare legs
don’t complain but they were borderline this morn.
After about 20 mins there was a glimmer of sunshine through the clouds and the snow became
thinner and thinner until it stopped. The wind didn’t and so you knew that you were still alive.
While walking in Armidale the most common birds that you see are the Magpies and I was
wondering this morning how they were coping with the sudden change in the weather. Many
looked fat as they puffed up their feathers, others just got on with business. For me I think as
long as my body, my core is warm then I can deal with the cold……….although even wearing
thicker gloves was insufficient in keeping my fingers happy.

3 years ago I went to Harbin in the north of China to visit the Ice Festival, the temperatures
there got down to -30 C. On the third day I was there I was walking around the city and there
was a slight breeze and it began to slice through my clothing, finally reaching my flesh. Of
course phones and cameras play up when it gets this cold, many things don’t function as they
should. On the street corner near the Russian Orthodox Church was a beggar, playing some
kind of stringed instrument which was making dreadful noises, it too was complaining about
the cold. The old man was rugged up but he could have passed for one of the ice carvings
around the city. He was gaunt, dishevelled and sitting on the ground with only a piece of
cardboard between him and the ground………..how he was able to survive this was beyond me.

Since 2016 I have had winter in China, in Suzhou. The winters have not been particularly cold
but they have been wet and so it makes you feel cold. The houses are not comfortable, well my
place wasn’t, so you end up being like the Michelin man inside and outside the house. You sit
too long and the chill sets in. Thankfully today we have the fire on, the wood burner, and the
heat that it gives off is great…………so much better than using the reverse cycle air conditioner.
The warmth grabs you and heats the whole of your body and the other great thing about it, is
that it doesn’t play havoc with me sinuses…………………..